I completed my tour of Maekawa Architecture in Kanagawa Prefecture with a visit to the Prefectural Youth Center!

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File.21 Learning about Maekawa Architecture at the Prefectural Youth Center
Miyuki Inoue (Magcal Editorial Department)

The Momijigaoka area of Yokohama is home to a collection of buildings designed by Kunio Maekawa, a leading figure in post-war modernist architecture in Japan. We've already been given a guided tour of the Prefectural Library and the Prefectural Concert Hall, so only the Youth Center remains.
This time, in addition to the "building tour" by the volunteer group bridge, I heard that there would also be a "stage backstage tour" by the hall staff and a lecture by Mr. Hashimoto, the director of Maekawa Architectural Design Office, so I eagerly went to check it out.

The Prefectural Youth Center was completed in 1962. Initially, it was a five-story complex that included a theater hall, a planetarium, and a science exhibition hall. Later, large-scale renovation work was carried out to improve functionality and earthquake resistance, and it was reborn in its current form in 2005.
This major renovation project received numerous awards, including the 19th BELCA Award for Best Renovation, as an excellent example of extending the lifespan of public facilities. In 2018, it was also selected by DOCOMOMO JAPAN as one of Japan's Modern Movement buildings, following the prefectural library and the concert hall.

* Click here for a report on the architectural tour of the Prefectural Music Hall>>>
*Click here for a report on the architectural tour of the prefectural library>>>

The library and concert hall are representative works from Maekawa's first architectural period. In contrast, the Youth Center was designed during the transition period between the second and third periods, and it is interesting that it possesses characteristics of both.
One of its distinguishing features is the use of "precast concrete" in window frames and other components. This involves manufacturing concrete plates and other materials in advance at a factory and then assembling them on-site.

Another distinctive feature is the "cast-in tiles." Because the exposed concrete exterior walls deteriorate over time, the aim was to improve both durability and design by covering them with large-format tiles. You can see them up close on the back side, around the loading dock of the hall, after going around from the main entrance.
Incidentally, each tile weighs about 10 kilograms (!). I wholeheartedly agree with the anecdote that it was unpopular with the craftsmen who installed it.

The major challenge of the 2005 renovation was to improve the building's seismic performance while preserving and maintaining the exterior as much as possible. To achieve this, the planetarium, observatory, and the fourth-floor floor slab were removed to reduce the building's weight, and seismic walls were installed. The result was a solid and sturdy three-story building.
Currently, if you look up on the third floor, you'll notice a strange space in what would normally be the ceiling. Apparently, this is the remnant of the removal of the fourth-floor slab.

Evidence of the major renovation can also be seen in the staircase leading from the first-floor lobby to the second floor. Can you see the "cast-in tiles" that were used on the exterior wall remaining on the second-floor wall on the left? That's right, this is an extension, a space that was once outdoors. Before the renovation, an external staircase was used to access the second floor, so the building was expanded and a new private staircase was added for convenience.

When you think of youth centers, you think of Momijizaka Hall!
This venue, too, underwent a major renovation in 2005, with everything except the walls being extensively refurbished. While the sound, lighting, and other stage equipment were completely replaced, apparently renovating the stage curtain was also a major challenge.
The stage curtain was created by the renowned Japanese painter, Sugiyama Yasushi. It is a rare piece, with only a few remaining in Japan, but it inevitably shows signs of age-related deterioration. Therefore, the original curtain was carefully examined to find its original colors, and, as before, a Kyoto workshop that uses the extremely rare technique of woven tapestry was commissioned to create a new one. It has been beautifully restored.
Incidentally, a portion of the original stage curtain is on display in the lobby, so be sure to take a look when you visit the Youth Center.

What I was personally happy about was that the seat width increased from 46cm to 52cm. Although the number of seats decreased from 1,000 to 812, the seats are now arranged in an alternating pattern so that seats do not overlap, allowing for a more comfortable viewing experience.

The hall's walls remain the same as before, but in fact, they are filled with incredible ingenuity.
The structure is called a "Helmholtz resonator," and there is a sound-absorbing space behind the tiles, which controls the reverberation throughout the hall. The reverberation time is 1.1 seconds, which is suitable for theatrical performances. I thought it was just a design (sorry), so I was surprised to hear that it actually involves some incredible physics!

This report was compiled with reference to the guidance provided by the members of bridge, as well as a lecture given by Mr. Hashimoto, the director of Maekawa Architectural Design Office.
thank you very much!

One last point.
This year, the plaza in front of the Youth Center was renovated, creating a pleasant space. The camphor tree towering in the center is believed to be the same tree depicted in ukiyo-e prints from the time when the Kanagawa Magistrate's Office was established on this land, and it could now be called a symbol of Momijigaoka.
Mr. Maekawa values the space leading up to a building, and apparently he designed a space that he himself called "Esplanade" for one of his facilities. There is no evidence that he used that name when designing the Momijigaoka area, but Director Hashimoto believes that "the newly developed space is worthy of being called <Esplanade>."